From SwissWatchExpo… Spotlight on: Our picks for the best watches
of the 2010s. Watches that defined the decade.
New watches come out every year. Some have been anticipated for a long time, while others
come as complete surprises. In the past decade, we've had those, and more.
It was a decade that gave us new classics. Watches that would go on to define their category,
or become landmark pieces of their brands -- it's hard to imagine they were created
just years ago!
Here are our picks for the best watches of the 2010s, or ones that we think will set
the standard for this decade's timepieces:
Opening the decade was 2010’s Calibre de Cartier watch. Cartier has always been known
for making refined dress watches, but with the Calibre de Cartier, the French maison
proved that they can make sports watches.
And it's not just any sports watch - it's both robust and elegant.
This modern interpretation of the round watch is unlike any we’ve ever seen from Cartier,
but it still carries the brand’s sophisticated design DNA.
The Calibre is also the first watch to be powered by the 1904 (nineteen oh four) MC,
Cartier's new in-house chronograph movement, making it a landmark piece for the brand.
The following year, Rolex launched a new version of the popular Rolex Explorer Two.
While it wasn't entirely new, the reference 216570 (two one six five seventy), Rolex Explorer
Two Orange Hand, made waves when it was introduced.
The bigger Explorer Two was upgraded to 42 millimeters, powered by a brand new movement
never seen in any other Rolex model.
It also featured an orange 24-hour hand - a homage to the iconic Rolex Explorer
Two “Freccione” (fre-shon) of the 1970s.
Upgraded features, vintage inspiration, and overall versatility, makes this the choice
everyday watch of many.
Up next, we have the Tudor Heritage Black Bay -- one of the most successful dive watches
introduced during the decade.
At the start of the decade, Tudor had been rebuilding their brand with a very clear strategy:
to look into their iconic styles for inspiration, and combine them with modern design and technology.
The Tudor Heritage Black Bay took the brand's most memorable vintage elements (not from
one watch, but from many), and with a harmonious combination, was able to capture Tudor's
heritage in a modern timepiece.
Launched in Baselworld 2012, the Heritage Black Bay was a hit from day one, and was followed
by successful iterations in the following years.
The following year, we had a groundbreaking release from Omega – the Speedmaster Dark
Side of the Moon.
The use of ceramic in watches gained traction in the 2010s, and Omega had one of the best
executions.
The Dark Side of the Moon is an all-black Speedmaster made from a single block of ceramic.
It was the first watch to have its main components, including the dial, crown, buckle, and pushers,
to be made out of ceramic.
A technical feat, and one of Omega's greatest successes in recent history.
The Rolex Batman’s history actually begins eight years earlier, when Rolex introduced
the Cerachrom technology for their bezels, in 2005.
Rolex launched the trailblazing Cerachrom - their patented ceramic production technology
that makes bezels virtually scratch- and fade-proof.
Used in their sports watches, they hit a wall with the bi-colored bezel of the GMT-Master,
which was deemed impossible to produce with a single piece of ceramic.
By 2013, Rolex outdid themselves with the first GMT-Master model to be equipped with
a Cerachrom bezel: the Rolex GMT Master Two "Batman”, Blue Black Bezel Watch.
A patented process is done to produce a bi-color, single ceramic ring, with no bleeding of color
and gradual fading. Rolex is the only company in the world to do this.
Heuer has created a bevy of variations for their iconic Carrera watch, but none has been
as modern and avant-garde as 2015’s Carrera Caliber 01. (oh one)
he large 45 millimeter watch has an open working dial that shows the partially skeletonized,
in-house chronograph movement.
The watch is bold, masculine, and exotic - and one that successfully crossed over Tag Heuer
from the era of Steve McQueen, to the future.
In 2016, Rolex gave us the Rolex Daytona Ceramic Bezel Watch – today’s most coveted modern
Rolex Daytona.
This wasn't the first time that Rolex has used the Cerachrom on the Daytona.
That honor belongs to the Platinum 50th Anniversary Daytona 116506 (one one six five oh six) – but,
this was the ceramic bezel watch that fans have been waiting for.
The reference 116500LN (one one six five hundred LN) has the same technical capabilities as
its predecessor, the stainless steel Rolex Daytona.
However, the use of the Cerachrom made it less prone to scratching and fading, and
gave it an edgier look.
The Ceramic Bezel Daytona, available in white and black dials, became the most talked about
watch of 2016, and has a very long waiting list until today.
And finally, we have the Rolex Pepsi of 2018 – the Oystersteel version with a five link
Jubilee bracelet.
The Rolex "Pepsi" Blue Red Bezel Watch has always been on the must-have list of collectors;
But in 2018, Rolex offered them what they have been waiting for, for a long time: the
return of the Pepsi in stainless steel.
Not only did Rolex bring back the metal, it also resurrected the Jubilee bracelet in the
GMT-Master line, which was last seen in vintage models.
The 2018 Pepsi also introduced what seems to be Rolex's strategy of making their tool
watches more luxurious.
In 2019, we've also seen the new GMT-Master Two Batman don the Jubilee, and the Sea-Dweller
in a Rolesor steel and yellow gold model.
There you have it – our picks for the most defining watches of the 2010s. We’re excited
to see what the new decade will bring!
Which of your favorites made the list - and which ones didn’t? Tell us in the comments
section!
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